Merchandise display stand



- Jan. 5, 1965 R. H. TAUB MERCHANDISE DISPLAY sumo 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 7. 1961 fionald TauZ Jan. 5, 1965 R. H. TAUB 3,164,350

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY STAND Filed Aug. '7. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 frzQeniZar flonald Taufi IIIIIIIIII l- Jan. 5, 1965 R. H. TAUB 3,164,350

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY STAND Filed Au 7. 1961' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3,164,359 W "Patented Jan. 5, 1965 United States Patent ()flfi e 3,164,350 MERCHANDISE DESPLAY STAN Ronaid H. 'Iauh, Highland Park, Ill assignor to Creative Displays Inc, Ehicago, Iii.,a corporationof Illinois Filed Aug. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 129,853

11 Claims. (El. 248174) This invention relates to merchandise display stands, and more particularly to a novel display. stand whichis compact in size for shipping but which can beass'embl'ed easily to provide an attractive, durable display for point 'of sales merchandising. One aspect of the invention concerns the provision of a display counter which, when assembled, elevates rearward rows of packages to permit ready visbility of both rearward andforward packages.

' The invention also provides a means to permit collapsing of relatively large multi-layer structures made of corrugated cardboard or like material to a compact form.

In the merchandising of small packages bya retailer there are a number of considerations that enter into an effective and satisfactory display. Perhaps of major importance is the requirement of a display device which prominently exposes advertising matter or brand names on the faces of the packages, and this is especially significant when packages in a single display may be of various types. However, display counters must of necessity have a surrounding frame or flange to retain the packages, and this covers the advertising or other insigniaunless at least some of the packages are raised on steps. If'such steps or platforms are made integral with the display device, it is necessary to provide blocks or fillers which occupy valuable dead space and increase'the shipping bulk. n the other hand, if the steps are madecoll-apsible, they are generally diflicult for the retailers to assemble."

Another inconvenience often associated with such dis play devices is that they may be required to be placed on a base at. table height. so as to fold, and is made of material such as corrugated cardboard, there must be provisions for imparting rigidity to the assembled base. In mostinstances it has not been possible to employ simple corrugated cardboard structures for this purpose, inasmuch as the base must collapse to a size such that it can be placed together with'the packages and display counter in a shipping container.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an expendable merchandise display stand which is exceptionally attractive and yet which is of simple,

strong, and inexpensive construction. A further object is to provide a merchandise display counter capable of prominently displaying both rearward and forward rows of packages, yet whichhas no dead-spaces during shipment. Another object is to provide adisplay stand base which can be made in large sizes and which is exceptionally rigid, but which may nevertheless be collapsed and folded to compact dimensions for shipment. A more general object is to provide means for bending structures having several layers of corrugated cardboard or like material. Yet a further object is to provide a unitary container which houses an expendable merchandise display counter complete with all merchandise, together with a collapsed base, .and does not have dead-spaces during shipment. A more general object is to provide an Where the base is constructed stand is shown in perspective.

operating base '22, displays both the forward row or rowsf' expendable and attractive display standwhich can be ward row of packages, and a cooperating base, the counter.

- is a separable unit, and has protruding members (tabs 81 and 82 of FIGURE 6) which are received in corre f sponding slits (slits 4'7 and 48 of FIGURE 4) in the 1 bottom (false bottom 38 in FIGURE 4) placed under desirably being provided with a movable platform or false bottom beneath'the' rearward row of packages, and with slits in the bot-tom panel of the counter under the platform, Protuberances on the cooperating base project into these slits when the counter and base are assembled so that when the counter portion is pushed down, these protuberan'c'es elevate the platform and 'therebyelevate and expose the rearward rowof packages.

The "display standjbase features an improved arrange ment that enables .the stand to be folded 'to afconipact form for shipment. According to a preferred embodiment, the base has front re'a'r'w'alls and apair (if side walls which :fo'ld inwardly aceordionwise. 'Orie of the front and rear walls has a generally horizontal longitudinally aligned out "extending on the line of fold from each lateral edge iofthe wall across a portion onlyiof'the wall .andproviding .an uncut 'intermediateportion forming a hinge. The other of the'front and rear wall-s has score linesalongt-he line of fold opposit'e'ea'ch. of the cuts,

and score lines opposite to' th'e Thinge. IW-h'enftlrat wall a preferred embodiment of the invention. Like element's in the several drawings are numbered identically. FIGURE 1 isa perspective view showing the sem; bled merchandise stand, with its rearward rows of packages in anelevate'd position;

FIGURE 2 isa' section o'fthe assembled taken'on line 2 -2 ofFIGURE A,

FIGURE 3 "is a section of the display counter alone display stand,

in the condition in which it is shipped;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective 'of thedisplay counter showing the elevatabl'e platform or false bottom and a-divider panel;

FIGURE 5 is a blank assembleditoformthe'major element ofthe display counter; V FIGURE 6 'is a perspective view sho'wi'n'g the assembled display base; 1 FIGURE 7 shows the blank for the display base of FIGURE 6; t FIGURE 8 shows in perspective the hinged portion of the base in the first collapsed stage; 7 7

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged sectional view, 'taken'on line 99 in FIGURE 8; I

FIGURE 10 is similar to FIGURE 9 and shows the base half-way through its fold; FIGURE 11 is "similar to FIGURE9 and shows the base folded double; v

FIGURE 12 is an overall perspective view of the co'llapsed'and folded base. FIGURE 13 depicts the combination. of the'invention as it is employed in conjunction with merchandise packages, all contained within an exterior shipping container;v 7

Turning first to FIGURE 1, the assembled display Counter 21, atop its 00- 23 of packages and the rearward row or rows 24. Base" 22, which is of generally "frusto-conic'al or columnar form,

bottom of counter 21. When counter 21 is placed on the base 22, the protruding members ofthe base project" into the. counter and thereby support a movable'fal se inc.

the rearward rows 24 of packages. Thus, when the counter is pushed down these rows are held elevated above the forward rows-23.

The entire display stand is advantageously made of the usual corrugated cardboard sheet stock, comprising two outer layers of heavy paper secured to an inside layer of heavy corrugated paper. p p

A side sectional view of the assembled merchandise display stand, taken on line 2 2 of FIGURE 1, is de picted in FIGURE 2, and attention is invited to this fig- Referring first to the base, it comprises front wall 26, rear Wall 27 (a and b), and the inner portion of side Wall 29-. Some or all of these walls may contain advertising matter. Side wall 29 has a crease 77 which permits -folding of side wall 29 inward accordionwi-se toward the viewer, and a pair of creases 66 and 64 which are employed, in amanner reserved for later discussion, in folding the collapsed display stand'base 22 double upon itself for packaging. Wings 31 on the bottom edges of each 'wall of display stand base 29 fold inward. Wings 25, at the .top edges, also fold inwardly and further strengthen the foldable side walls 28 and 29 when the thereon elevated when tab 82, which constitutes an integral portion of side wall 29, is received into a pair of slots (47 and 48 in FIGURE 4) in the bottom portion 33 and rear wall 34 of counter 21.

A sectional side view, corresponding to the view of FIGURE 2 of the display stand counter 21 is shown in FIGURE 3. However, in this figure the base is not present, and hence false bottom 38 and its supported rearward row of packages 24 are retracted or withdrawn into shipping or pre-a'ssembled condition. The compactness ofthis assembly is immediately apparent from an examination of FIGURE 3, and it is particularly noted that there is no dead-space to take up shipping carton volume. 7

FIGURE 4 shows an expanded View of the display stand counter 21. The open-top box-like or trough-like main structure, comprising bottom portion 33, front wall 32a, rear' Wall 34, and side walls 41b and 39a are evident in the drawing. In this and in ensuing discussions, the small letters a, Fb etc. will denote one of two or more corrugated wall thicknesses; that is, for example, side wall 39 comprises an inner Wall 39a and an outer wall 3% not shown in this view. v

Also displayed in FIGURE 4 are the false bottom 38 and the L-shaped divider 36-37. The latter permits tab 82 (in FIGURE 2) to raise the rearward rows 24 of packages and thereupon prominently display these in relation to the forwardrows 23 when the display stand counter 21.is mounted onto the display stand base 22. I The blank or layout which is folded to make up the open-top box-like portion of counter 21 is shown in FIG- IURE -5. It is seen in the figure that only a single piece of corrugated cardboard need be employed, and as will become apparent momentarily, can be folded simply and without need for glue, staples, or other manufacturers attachments. The blank itself has portions which are divided by creases ('i.e. score lines, kerfs, or folds), or by cutsycreases are'shown by dotted lines while the cuts are shown solid. Thus, the blank includes bottom portion 33,

. rear wall 34, front wall 32a and 32b, side wall crossflaps 39c; and 41c attached to rear wall 34, and front wall crossflaps 32c and 32d attached to side wall portions 41b and39b; Y

To lock side wall portions 41a and 39a into position after the blank has been assembled, tabs 42 are rovided on each of these side wall portions and register and are received by slots 43 in the bottom portion 33. Similarly, the front wall portion 32b is locked into place by means of tabs 44 which fit into slots 46.

Slots 47 and 48 are also provided in the bottom 33 and rear 34 walls of the blank. The inner edges, as shown, are preferably straight while the outer edges of these slots are expanded somewhat to facilitate easy inse'rtion and to accommodate the slight inward inclinations of tabs 81 and 82 (of FIGURE 6) when the assembled counter 21 is placed atop the assembled display stand base 22.

Turning now to FIGURE 6, the assembled display stand base 22 is shown in position preparatory to receiving the assembled counter 21. This base, as noted earlier, comprises front wall 26, rear wall 2741-271), and side walls 28 and 29. This view clearly shows the functions of bottom wings 31 in forming a rigid attractive bottom for the assembled merchandise display stand, and of the corresponding top wings 25 in forming a sturdy shelf for the counter 21. The function of tabs 81 and 82, which are integral parts of side walls 28 and 29 respectively, are likewise illustrated; these tabs have notches 79 and 83, respectively, which engage rear wall 34 of counter 21 (see FIGURE 4) and thereby prevent displacement of the counter once it has been assembled onto the base 22.

The functions of the several substantially horizontal creases and cuts around the middle of all walls of base 22 can be mentioned briefly at this point, although details of these functions will be reserved for FIGURES 7 through 12. Front wall 26 has a substantially horizontal crease formed by crease 59 and 60 between lateral edges and dividing the wall 26 into upper and lower sections; crease 59 extends from each edge of front wall 22 and is preferably a single crease, while crease 60 is preferably a multiple, e.g. double, crease and extends between the two halves of crease 59. On rear wall 27a27b is a hinge-like portion which may have two or more widely spaced creases 51-71 between cut 53 on rear wall portion 27b and cut 68 on rear Wall portion 27a. These cuts similarly extend from the respective lateral edges of rear wall 27a-27b and are preferably substantially coextensive in length with the corresponding creases 59 on front wall 26. A segment 49 is cut from rear wall portion 27a to provide only a. single thickness of corrugated cardboard in the region of this hinge.

In order to avoid or minimize tearing at the junctures of creases 59 and 60 on front wall 26 and of 5368 and 51-71 on rear wall 2741-2715, transverse slits 61 and 62 on front wall 26 and slits 52 and 69 on rear wall 27a- 27b may be provided. These serve to avoid localized stresses on the cardboard when display stand base 26 is collapsed and folded double upon itself.

Referring to FIGURE 7, a blank or layout of the base 22 is shown prior to assembly. The viewer is looking onto what will be the outward surface display stand base 22. Front wall 26 and the two halves 27a and 27b of rear wall 27, are as shown in FlGURE 6, quadrilaterals, specifically equilateral trapezoids, while the side walls 28 and 2% are approximately rectangular. Each of the respective walls is provided with bottom wings 31, the corners of which are mit-red at 30 so that the assembled base has a flat bottom.

Front wall 26 has, as discussed in connection with FIGURE 6, an approximately horizontal crease or score line comprising portions 53 which extend from lateral edges 74 and 76 to a central crease 66; preferably crease 69 is two or more parallel creases while crease 59 need by only a single crease, but may be likewise two or more creases. On rear wall portions 27a and 271), respectively, are cuts 68 and 53, each extending from edge 78 and 72 respectively, and a central hinge-like portion which may be formed by optional creases 71 and 51, again respec- 3 tively on the two halves of the rear wall 27. Crease 60 may be substantially coextensive with this hinge-like portion; ie they are about equal in length, preferably exactly equal but advantageously one is not more than a half inch or so longer than the other. By means of this construction, the hinge-like portion will tend to compress only the region of crease 69.

Side walls 28 and 29 are centrally divided by creases 73 and 77, respectively, which extend completely through wings 31 and 25. In turn, when these wings are folded, they prevent side walls 28 and 29 from re-collapsing.

As noted earlier, a series of cuts transverse, and preferably perpendicular, to the respective creases may be provided so as to avoid or minimize tearing of. thecorrugated walls when the display stand base 22 is collapsed and folded for shipment. It has been found from experience that when thecorrugated board is approximately A" thick, cuts 54, 53,61, 62, 63 and 67 are advantageously about /2" long while cuts 52 and 69 are approximately 1" in length. Also, if two creases all are used, they may be spaced 9," apart; spacing of multiple creases 51 and 71, if these are employed, may be about /2.

From the position of the viewer, edge creases '72, 74, 76, and 73 are on the reverse side of the blank, as are the. creases which define wings 31 and 25. Edge creases '73 and 77 are on the surface facing the viewer. Central creases 5% and as also face the viewer, while creases 56, 57, 64, and 65, each of which may be one or a plurality of creases, may be on either side.

Only a single gluing, stapling, or similar attaching proceclu're need be made by the manufacturer to join the edges of rear wall portions 27aand 27b to form rear wall 27 of display stand base 22.. It will be evident that this is a substantial improvement over many similar bases, which require several manufacturers joints.

FIGURE 8 shows an enlarged view of the assembled and collapsed display :stand base 22. It will be seen that side walls 29 have been folded inward accordionwise to form a fiat package; wings 31 and 2-5 (of PEG- URE 7) will be extended when the base is collapsed. Cuts dand 53 in rear wall portions 27a and 27b respectively are clearly shown in this view, as is the hinge- I like portion of rear'wall 27 which remains after the cuts depicted with reference to FIGURES 9, l0, and 11, and

accordingly attention is invited first to FIGURE 9.

In this figure, which is a sectional view taken through lines 99 of FIGURE 8, may be seen'fnont wall 26 with its double creased portion defined by creases so, and

rear wall 273F271) with its doubly creased matching portion defined byc reases 51. Cut 53 appears as a dotted line in this view'of rear wall 27a27b, while theinwardly. folded edge 27 or side wall portion 23 is also shown. FIGURE 9 depicts the display stand base folding" joint before folding begins, and to view thejoint as folding commences, attention is invited to FIGURE 10.

In FIGURE l0, fol'ding of the base 22 inwardly upon itself, i;e. doubling it over, is accompanied by a collapsing of the portion of front wall as defined by adjacent creases 6b. The hinge defined by creases 51 (which disappear once folding commences) forces the region of front wall 26 near double creases 69 to contract, and at the same time tension is applied to the hinge portion (formerly of rear wall portion 272) which has been cut by cut 53- separates. cleanly, while the region of rear wall portion 27 b formerly defined by double creases 51 acts as a hinge,

collapsing the inner region of front wall 26 in the region of double creases 66. As a result, this latter region is constricted in volume, and in efiect retracts so as to permit facile folding of the rear wall hinged portion.

An overall view of the collapsed and doubled over display stand base is shown inFlGURE. l2, and attention is directed to this figure. Here it is seen that the complete di-splaystand base can becollapsed inward by accordionwise folding of side walls 28'and29 and doubled over upon itself by means of the center crease arrangement described earlier. The compactness of the resultant base, in relation to the comparatively large size of the assembled base, constitutes a major advantageous feature of the invention. 4

Full advantage is taken of the collapsible feature of the base, as well as the retractable featureof the display stand counter 21, when the completed stand, together with rows of packages 23 and 24 is assembled within an exterior shipping container 84, as shown in FIGURE 13. Base 22 may be placed on the bottom or the top of counter 21, and the whole forms a compact package for low-volume shipment, as well as for convenient assembly by un rained vendors.

Upon receiving a complete package containing counter,

base, and individual rnerchandisepackages, as shown on FIGURE 13, the vendor or distributor need only perform a few simple operations to assemble the complete merchandise display stand. First, thejentire counter 21 and collapsed and folded base 22 are removed from the outer shipping container 84-. Then, in the manner shown by FIGURE 6, the base is assembled; it is particularly noted that the vendor-or distributor need'not fasten any joints or become involyed in any elaborate assembly operation beyond mere unfolding and expanding the base and folding wings 31 and 25 inward. Finally, and without any more, counter 21 with its contained rows of merchandise is placed atop the base in the manner of FIGURE 1 andpressed down, whereupon the rearward rows of packages are elevated into prominent display for easy .observation by the consumer. This case of assembly is markedly improved over virtually all prior art devices of similar nature, and although compact for shipment, the assembled device isextremely rigid, attractive, and practical.

Numerous other advantages of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description or from an inspection of the completed device. For example, packages of different types can frequently be accommodated in a single display stand, and various forms of advertising matter can be applied to the several walls of both the base and the counter.

In addition, the inventive design accommodates'itself to numerous other uses and modifications. For example, merely by changing the dimensions of false bottom of platform iifi'andoptional spacer or divider 36-37, differ'ent: sizes of packages can be accommodated- Also,

by providing a plurality of false bottoms and dividers, as

;well' as several step-like tabs 81 arid 82, more than two 7 rows .of packages may be employed, and all rows behind the first can similarly be elevated in a'ddition,' s everal foldsrnay -be provided inthe base so that bases of extremely large size-up to four or five feet or even more in height'may be obtained in a single, compact, structure. While the invention has been described in considerable detail in conjunction with a specific embodimentithereof, v

tionally, the individual elements of'the inventive m'erchana dise display stand can be used'independently, e.g. the

base may be used with other counters and the counters with other base designs. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations, as well as independent uses of the foregoing ele- 7 ments as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a collapsible display stand base of the type having front and rear walls and a pair of side Walls foldable inwardly accordionwise, the improvement enabling mul tiple corrugated cardboard walls of the collapsed display substantially coextensive with said hinge, whereby folding said structure so that the hinge is on the outside causes the cardboard portion defined by said parallel score lines to collapse and thereby constrict in volume.

2. In a multiwall structure of the type formed of corru'gated cardboard and having at least front and rear walls, the improvement enabling adjacent multiple corrugated cardboard walls of the structure to be doubled over which comprises: one of said walls having generally horizontal longitudinally aligned cuts extending from the lateral edges across a portion only of said wall, the uncut intermediate portion forming a hinge,' and the other of said walls having at least one score line adjacent the said cuts and a pair of parallel score lines adjacent said hinge, whereby folding said structure so that the hinge is on the outside causesthe cardboard portion defined by said parallel score lines to collapse and thereby constrict in volume. p 3. A cardboard display device for retaining a plurality of packages in a non-elevated position for shipment without dead spaces and for elevating some of said packages for prominent display, comprising: a cardboard opentopped box-like structure having side walls and a generally flat bottom, said bottom having projection-receiving cutout portions therein, a false bottom covering a portion of said-bottom and extending over said cut-out portions to receive packages thereon, a collapsible cardboard base supporting said box-like structure from below and having upward-extending projections on the top thereof for entering said cut-out portions of said bottom, said projections raising said false bottom and thereby raising the packages disposed on said false bottom from their non-elevated shipment position to an elevated display position.

4. 'A cardboard merchandise display device for retaining a plurality of packages in a non-elevated position for shipmentwithout dead' spaces and for elevating some of said packages for prominent display, comprising: a cardboard open-topped box-like structure having side walls and ajbottom, said' bottomhaving projection-receiving cut-out portions therein, and a cardboard base supporting said'box-like structure. from below and having upwardextendingdportions thereon, said upward-extending por-.

tions protruding through said bottom to elevate the packages above said cut-out portion from their non-elevated shipment position to an elevated display position.

5. A cardboard merchandise display device for retaining a plurality of packagesin anon-elevated position for shipment without dead spaces and elevating some of said packages for'prominent display, comprising: a cardboard open-topped box having side walls and a bottom, said bottom having projection-receiving cut-out portions therein, atalse bottom covering a portion of said bottom and extending over said cut-out portions to receive packages thereon, a collapsible cardboard base supporting said box-like structure from below and having upwardextending projections thereon, said upwardextending projections protruding through said bottom to elevate said false bottom and thereby elevate the packages disposed on said false bottom from their non-elevated shipment position to an elevated display position.

6. A cardboard merchandise display device for retaining a plurality of packages of merchandise in a nonelevated position for shipment without dead spaces and for elevating some of said packages for prominent display, comprising: a cardboard open-topped box-like structure adapted to retain said packages and having side walls and a generally flat bottom, said bottom having projectionreceiving cut-out portions therein disposed below the packages to be elevated, and a cooperating base supporting said box-like structure from below and having upwardextending projections on the top thereof for entering said projection-receiving cut-out portions of said bottom, said projections protruding through said cut-out portions and elevating the packages disposed above cut-out portions from their non-elevated shipment position to the elevated display position.

7. A combined merchandise packing and display device comprising an exterior shipping container containing merchandise packages together with the merchandise dislay device of claim 6, the base thereof being collapsed and disposed within said shipping container.

8. The merchandise display device of claim 6 having a false bottom extending over said projection-receiving cut-out portions and adapted to receive packages thereon, whereby said projections projecting through the projectionreceiving cut-out portions engage and support the false bottom in elevated position.

9. The merchandise display device of claim 6 wherein said base comprises a tubular member generally rectangular in cross section and having a step portion to support said structure, and having the rearward wall and portions of the side walls extending above the step portion, the side wall portions being adapted to enter said projectionreceiving cut-out portions, there being notches at the junctures of the side wall portions and rear wall to permit the rear wall to overlap the rear of the structure.

10. The merchandise display device of claim 9 wherein said base has inwardly bending flanges at the bottom to maintain the tubular member against collapse.

11. The base of claim 8 including inwardly foldable wings on adjacent ends of said side walls whereby folding of said wings when said display stand is assembled imparts rigidity to said side walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,103,286 7/14 Hallett 248-174 1,771,760 7/30 MacLellan 229-6 2,141,216 12/38 Mancuso 108-100 X 2,229,257 1/41 Reaume 248-174 2,430,166 11/47 Fish 211- 2,713,984 7/55 Paige 248-174 2,745,543 5/56 Broderick 206-45 2,797,815 7/57 Gorman 211-72 2,940,710 6/60 Adams 248-174 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, FRANK L. ABBOTT,

Examiners. 

1. IN A COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY STAND BASE OF THE TYPE HAVING FRONT AND REAR WALLS AND A PAIR OF SIDE WALLS FOLDABLE INWARDLY ACCORDIONWISE, THE IMPROVEMENT ENABLING MULTIPLE CORRUGATED CARBOARD WALLS OF THE COLLAPSED DISPLAY STAND TO BE FOLDED OVER WHICH COMPRISES: ONE OF SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS HAVING GENERALLY HORIZONTAL LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED CUTS EXTENDING FROM THE LATERAL EDGES OF SAID WALL ACROSS A PORTION ONLY OF SAID WALL AND DIVIDING SAID WALL INTO AN UPPER AND A LOWER SECTION, THE UNCUT 